Articles — real numbers, real decisions
No listicles. We run our own calculators and publish what surprised us — including the parts that don't flatter the tools.
4 articles · newest first
RSSThe $812 Confession: Our Restaurant Budget Was a Work of Fiction
An Ottawa couple budgeted $300/mo for restaurants. Eight months of statements said $812. On visibility, shame, and choosing your number on purpose.
At 6.09%, a $700K Toronto Condo Never Breaks Even in 10 Years
We ran our rent-vs-buy calculator twice on the same $700K Toronto condo — at the stale 5.49% default, then the real 6.09%. The verdict flipped entirely.
RRSP or TFSA First? For Helen, the Order Is Worth $26,541
Two confident advisers gave Helen, 61, opposite withdrawal orders. We ran her $500k retirement through the live drawdown tool: the order is worth $26,541.
David's 13 Years: What Happens to a Vancouver FIRE Plan in Chiang Mai
David, 41, has $680,000 and a 13-year runway to retirement in Metro Vancouver. The same numbers in Chiang Mai say he is already done. Here's the honest math.